Bangladesh’s export revenues rose by 18% in December 2024, driven by strong performance in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the country earned $4.627 billion in December, a 17.72% increase from $3.93 billion in December 2023.

The RMG sector alone contributed $3.77 billion, up 17.45% year-on-year, reflecting a significant recovery despite earlier disruptions. In the first half of the 2024-25 fiscal year, exports totaled $21.74 billion, marking a 12.84% growth compared to the same period last year.

The industry faced major setbacks earlier, including political turmoil, anti-government movements, and labor unrest in key garment hubs like Gazipur and Savar. Protests and factory shutdowns from July to October led to production halts and the cancellation of 15-20% of export orders.

Despite these challenges, the EPB described the rebound in exports as a positive sign for economic recovery, with the RMG sector remaining the primary driver. The bureau calculated export revenues using an exchange rate of Tk 119.43 per US dollar.